Sharks' Patrick Marleau unhurt after serious car crash

San Jose Sharks forward Patrick Marleau was uninjured after being involved in a serious car crash Tuesday in San Jose.

"Forward Patrick Marleau is doing fine and was not injured after he was involved in a car accident in San Jose earlier today," the Sharks announced via Twitter.

Photos of the scene published by Bay Area's KRON-TV show the driver's side of one vehicle smashed in. A Mercedes SUV, apparently belonging to Marleau, had minor damage to its front-left side.

Marleau, 34, has 10 goals and 10 assists in 21 games for the Sharks this season.

Martin Havlat's agent responded to trade rumours Tuesday by saying his client is "happy in San Jose," but Sharks officials seem less than thrilled with the winger's performance of late.

A source told QMI Agency that the Ottawa Senators and New York Rangers have asked about acquiring the Czech.

"Martin has a full no-move clause and no one has ever suggested to him anything about a trade," Havlat's agent, Allan Walsh, tweeted Tuesday. "He is happy in San Jose and solely focused on playing hockey."

Havlat made his season debut Oct. 30 after off-season pelvic surgery. He has one goal and one assist in eight games and has been relegated to fourth-line duties.

"As a player, once you're back healthy, you have to earn your opportunity and ice time," Sharks general manager Doug Wilson told the San Jose Mercury News.

Head coach Todd McLellan said Havlat's played enough "exhibition" games and it's time to see results.

"We've talked a lot about being patient with him, and letting him play his way into shape, and his timing, and all that stuff," McLellan told CSN Bay Area. "We've done that. Now, it's about results."

Young players won't have their lack of experience held against them when it comes time to pick the U.S. Olympic team.

Nashville Predators general manager David Poile, who's also tasked with constructing the U.S. Olympic team lineup, told Sportsnet 590 The Fan Tuesday that young players -- specifically sophomore Alex Galchenyuk and rookie Seth Jones -- are very much in the mix.

"He's in his second year, he's only 19 years old, but he's a really, really good player," Poile said of Galchenyuk, who plays for the Montreal Canadiens. "We're not averse to choosing him over more veteran players if he's the best player."

As for Jones, who plays for the Preds, Poile admitted his bias toward the young defenceman but said he deserves a spot on the team's short list.

"The size, the skating, penalty killing, power play, success on the big ice surface, winning the gold medal in the world juniors "¦ all you can say against Seth Jones right now is he's 19 years old and he doesn't have the experience," Poile said.

Adrian Aucoin announced his retirement Tuesday after 18 seasons in the NHL with seven teams.

The 40-year-old defenceman recorded 121 goals and 278 assists in 1,108 games for the Vancouver Canucks, Tampa Bay Lightning, New York Islanders, Chicago Blackhawks, Calgary Flames, Phoenix Coyotes and Columbus Blue Jackets.

"Having the opportunity to realize my childhood dream of playing in the NHL and being able to have played professional hockey for 20 seasons has been an incredible experience," Aucoin said in a statement released by the NHL Players' Association.

"I really enjoyed playing with and against some of the best players in the game and getting the chance to play in front of such great hockey fans. Thanks to my family, teammates, friends, fans and everyone in the hockey community who helped me in my career. I will look back on it with fondness and pride for the rest of my life."

Aucoin was a fifth-round draft pick of the Canucks (No. 117) in 1992. He had his best season in 1998-99 when he led all NHL defensemen with 23 goals.

"It's a question between the Koivu brothers as to who will be the captain," Finland coach Erkka Westerlund told the Minnesota Star-Tribune. "I've known Mikko since he was this high (holding his left hand four feet off the ground). He's a strong leader on our team. He knows what he wants. He can help the teammates play better."

Saku, who plays for the Anaheim Ducks, and Mikko, who plays for the Minnesota Wild, are both stalwarts and one or the other has worn the 'C' for Finland in nearly every tournament over the last 15 years. Saku, who turns 39 Saturday, has been captain more often than his 30-year-old brother, but Mikko has been the more productive of the two in recent years and led Finland to gold at the 2011 world championship.

Westerlund said he will consult general manager Jari Kurri and veteran Teemu Selanne before making a decision.

Carolina Hurricanes head coach Kirk Muller confirmed Alexander Semin is out indefinitely with a concussion.

"He'll get some more testing tomorrow and will go through the usual routine and protocol," Muller told reporters Tuesday.

Semin hasn't hit the ice since Saturday, when he was on the receiving end of a hard check from St. Louis Blues defenceman Alex Pietrangelo. Semin left the game briefly before returning. He was a scratch Monday against the Boston Bruins.

The winger missed the last two games of the lockout-shortened season with a concussion. Semin is third in team scoring with three goals and six assists in 20 games this season.

After missing 17 games due to a concussion, Rick Nash returned to the New York Rangers lineup Tuesday.

"It's been a long six weeks so I'm excited to get in there," Nash told reporters at the morning skate. "I think the first everything is going to take awhile, whether it's a hit, a shot or a pass, making different plays. It's a long time off, so it's going to take some time."

Nash hasn't played since Oct. 8 when took a hit to the head from San Jose Sharks defenceman Brad Stuart. It was Nash's second concussion in eight months.

The winger comes back after the Rangers climbed back to .500 following a 3-7-0 start to the season. New York has won seven of its last 10 games and are eighth in the Eastern Conference.

The Buffalo Sabres assigned Mikhail Grigorenko, Rasmus Ristolainen and Johan Larsson to the AHL's Rochester Americans. Nikita Zadorov was sent to the OHL's London Knights. Mike Weber was activated from injured-reserve ... The Sabres were also given permission to talk to Boston Bruins assistant general manager Jim Benning about their vacant GM position, according to multiple reports ... Former NHLer Georges Laraque's legal case has been put off until Dec. 18. Laraque faces fraud charges related to his Super-Glide synthetic ice business venture.